Former Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah met Governor Satya Pal Malik in order to find out what was happening in the state but concluded saying “nobody knows what’s going on in the state.”
Post-meeting with Governor Malik, Omar said in a press brief “We wanted to know about the current situation in J&K. When we ask officials they say something is happening, but nobody knows what actually is happening.”
Omar clarified with the Governor on the rumours spreading across the state about the scrapping of Article 370, Article 35A, delimitation and even trifurcation of the state, and said: “The Governor assured us that in all these issues, no preparation is being made to make any announcement.”
The National Conference leader demanded an explanation from the Centre as to what was the need to end Amarnath Yatra and issue an advisory to the tourists to leave the valley.
“Let Parliament assure us that there is no need for the people to be afraid.”
Omar also opined that Governor Mailk’s word cannot be taken as the final saying and Centre should clarify its position over these rumours.
“More than what the Governor tells us publicly, I would like to hear from the government of India that there is nothing the people have to be worried about.”
Top sources in National Conference party said Omar was calling on the Governor to obtain whatever assurance the Raj Bhawan could give him, but neither the leader nor any other mainstream politician expected their meeting with Governor Malik to set the ball rolling in the reverse direction.
In his meeting with the Governor, Abdullah was assured that the current developments have nothing to do with any modification of the constitutional provisions. Malik also said the forced movement is to counter heightened threat perception and some rotation.